Occupational Health and Safety

CONTENT

Acknowledgement                                                                                    2                                                                                  

Case Study                                                                                                 3

Executive Summary                                                                                  6

Answer for question no.01                                                                        7                                                                      

Answer for question no.02                                                                       12

Answer for question no.03                                                                       14

Answer for question no.04                                                                       17

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I hereby, like to convey my heartiest gratitude to Dr. Prabath Karunanayaka, for giving us the knowledge and the guidance to make this project report a success. At the same time I would like to thank IPM for providing us a good learning environment and facilities. I would also like to thank everyone who helped me to find information, put them together and complete this project within the given time frame.

CASE STUDY

Cargo and Container Handling Company (Pvt) Ltd

Cargo and Container Handling Co. Ltd was earlier located in Colombo, in close proximity to the Port. With the relocation of such projects out of Colombo city, the container yard along with all its technical operations was relocated in Hendala, Wattala. At the initial stages of re location a “settling in allowance” was paid and a “traveling allowance” was paid to the employees only for three months. But the traveling arrangements in respect of the Executives were continued.

The new container yard is around 10 acres in extent and was macadamized. Since it was a new location, all the buildings and the hangers were constructed new. The present condition is that the road and the yard are damaged due to the use of heavy machinery and the rain. There are ruts and holes and on rainy days these get filled with muddy rain water. During the rainy season the drains in the yard overflow and the whole area becomes water logged as there is no proper outflow in the adjacent lands. These have become very good grounds for mosquitoes to breed.

Although the yard is vast there are only a few spot lights, some are fused and broken and even the wiring is also very old and wires are just hanging in most areas; and in any case lights are far apart from one another.

The cargo and container handling is a 24 hour operation and the manual workers work on two shifts. It so happens that some heavy vehicle drivers and machine operators are compelled to continue working in two shifts to cover up for the absentees. They are paid overtime and the shift allowance. The work involves packing, repairing of containers and washing, cleaning and painting of containers. Mounting on trailers of containers is by the forklift operators, transport to the port, documentation, etc. is also a part of the operations. Sometimes the trailer driver and the helper who go to the Port are compelled to wait in the queue for long hours due to the congestion in the port. No incidental allowance is paid to meet the expenses of their food, water, tea etc.

There is an incentive scheme in operation for all the employees in common, for the manual operatives and supervisory and clerical staff. The latter category is entitled to special traveling arrangements such as pick up and drops at port. The operatives who finish their shift work in the night spend the night in the yard, in spite of the fact that facilities are not provided for such staff.

The following are some of the services and benefits provided, but most of these do not have the desired results.

1. A pint of milk is given to all the heavy vehicle drivers and machine operators. A few employees do not like it but there is no choice.

1. Uniforms are issued but the lockers are situated far away from the work stations.

1. Safety helmets, shoes and other PPEs are provided but very few use them actually.

1. A laundryman washes the uniforms but he is not regular and no action is taken to regularize the system. The employees are fined and/or punished for not wearing uniforms.

1. No canteen facility is available, but a vehicle is provided for the tea maker who collects money from employees to go to the hotel close by and bring food for the employees who have not bought their food from home and for those who are compelled to continue the shift. He has to account for the collections.

1. A first aid box is there (for the whole facility) in the HR department under the supervision of the HR manager.

1. The drinking water is available in the office and the operational units but not in the yard.

1. There is a medical expenses reimbursement scheme for all employees, with special health policy in operation for the executives with variations from senior executives to junior executives. There is a medical officer attending to the employees on day shift but no such facility available in the night. If an employee falls sick in the night or in an emergency the worker has to be transported to the nearby hospital.

The human resources Manager acts as the safety manager, but he is not available in the premises in the night. Posters on accident prevention and safety management are displayed and exhibited in various places of the premises, but the technical staff is unable to explain the details and the salient features of such posters and slogans.

The employees have to wash and paint the 40 foot long containers and there is no ventilation, and some employees faint inside or have difficulty in breathing and/or get suffocated, a driver and two cleaners were treating themselves for minor rashes.